Well, I think you're not allowing for the wide variety of variables here, such as: age of current computer, desktop/laptop, need to run Windows software, and so on.
seems that some of us diagree. nobody knows the future and it really depends on you personal situation. i don't want to update the software i own. that alone is a ~500 dollar reason to buy a g5.
I think it depends on what he/she wants. And until he/she coughs up more information, he/she should wait on recommending (or not recommending) anything to him/her.